November 21, 2012

Don't waste your fall and meet Meb

We're currently in Kentucky, enjoying some farm animals, fall colors, and loads of cousins. One of our chores today was raking leaves, and my kids finally got to jump in leaves for as long as they could stand. They loaded the leaves into this contraption.

And jumped, and jumped, and jumped.

Last week when we were raking leaves in our own yard, we had a few more scoops to go when I asked my kids if they had jumped in the pile when they first started the job. My seven-year-old son screwed up his face and said, "No, we just totally wasted fall." So the farm saved fall from being a complete disaster.

Leaf juggling also saves fall from being a disaster.

The leaves and tall grass were perfect for warming up for today's tempo run. Running in long grass is another great ankle strengthening workout. You know how lately I'm all about bulking up my ankles. I'm going to have to start using my ankles, instead of my biceps, to point to the gun show.

Hitting my tempo pace on the small hills of Kentucky was a surprising (or not) challenge. My goal was 5 miles at 7:39, and instead I hit the splits at 7:09, 7:38, 7:37, 7:40, and 7:26. I felt like I had just finished a marathon.

But I didn't even run one of those miles as fast as this guy runs all 26.2.

Good news: Meb's coming to visit us in Birmingham on Monday night. From 5:30 to 7:30, he'll be at Aloft Birmingham, 1903 29th Avenue South, Homewood, Alabama.

Here's more info:

The Birmingham Track Club, in conjunction with the Trak Shak, is proud to invite you to “An Evening with Meb Keflezighi.” Meb is one of America’s most talented marathoners boasting such honors as: Silver Medalist at the Beijing Olympics, winner of the NYC Marathon, winner of the 2012 Olympic Marathon Trials, and placed 4th overall at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Admission is free, but this is a special one night only event, so don’t miss out. Meb will be autographing copies of his book, “Run to Overcome” and $5 of each book sold benefits the Birmingham Track Club.

Help spread the word and please invite your friends as well. We look forward to seeing you there.

I will definitely be picking up a copy of Run to Overcome. I'm always up for reading an amazing runner's life story. Always. Hopefully I can finish it before Rocket City so I have some Meb motivation flowing through my brain cave during the more grueling moments of my marathon.

Aww, so cute about your kiddo saying they wasted fall. So glad it was saved :) That is so awesome that you are going to see Meb. I think I would just ask him HOW?! I am sure I would be speechless actually! I am spending Thanksgiving at home (Duluth, MN) with just my husband and I am so excited about that.

Nice tempo run! I am staying home for Thanksgiving and cooking for my family which is what we do every year. I also plan to go shopping for Black Friday! I am not sure what I would ask Meb..except how in the world do you run so fast for 26.2 miles!

We are holding an impromptu Turkey trot at ours and then spending the day with friends. I have been entrusted with the sweet potato!!! And the wine. They know my cooking limitations but my good taste in vino!

i met Meb back at RNR Vegas in 2010, right when his book came out. he’s such a nice guy. I’d ask him about the future & what his plans are for running-will he retire anytime soon? i’m down in Mobile for thanksgiving-enjoying some R&R. favorite fall activity is spending time baking in my kitchen-i love all things pumpkin! hope yall are having fun. kinda wish I could jump in a pile of leaves :)